In real estate and on the Internet today, the key is location, location, location. Facebook Places, Google Latitude and Foursquare have opened our eyes to the potential benefits and concerns of geolocation services and features. Why are we voluntarily and publicly disclosing so much personal location information today? In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell discuss the growing role of geolocation services, how you might participate in and benefit from them, and how to make good choices about opting in and opting out of this brave new world.

In the last few weeks, use of web-based services that make use of your current location have become a hot topic. The combination of mobile phones, mobile devices, GPS, location apps, location services and the seemingly-unlimited willingness of people to share information about their current location has opened our eyes to a new stage in the evolution of the web.

We start with a look at the location-based “check-in” services, starting with Foursquare and the high-profile launch of the new Facebook Places. These services allow people to “check-in” and announce that they are at certain places through social media tools. the idea is that you can potentially identify other “friends” at the same location, find restaurants, et al. Sometimes, there might be “game” aspects where you might get recognition, points or awards for checking-in multiple times at a location.

Tom likes these services and uses them. I’m far more wary of them and am uncomfortable with giving up location information. We take a bit of a point/counterpoint approach to the pros and cons of these services.

We also make some predictions about the way these services might affect lawyers and the practice of law. My take is that there are probably some ways these services will have an impact, possibly significant, in some areas of the practice of law, and there are some interesting opportunities for creative lawyers to use these services in their practices. However, I’ll need smelling salts if lawyers take to these services in a significant way in the next year or two. If you are an innovator, put on your thinking cap and you might find that you can capture some areas long before anyone else gets there.

That is, if you are comfortable with the whole idea of giving up location information to the public. I must admit that I find it interesting to see people freely giving up information about their movements and whereabouts on the Internet when there would be a firestorm if government agencies announced that they wanted to collect the same location data. Geolocation is a trend worth watching simply for what it shows about our evolving sense of privacy.

In our “stuff Tom and Dennis have been talking about” segment, Tom reveals that he has recently purchased an iPad and I take advantage of the time slot to ask some specific questions that will impact on my own buying decision. Tom’s answers will be quite useful for anyone contemplating an iPad purchase.

Dennis Kennedy

DennisKennedy.Blog was launched on February 15, 2003.

Dennis Kennedy is one of the few technology lawyers who is also an expert on the underlying technologies. Dennis an award-winning leader in the application of technology and the Internet to the practice of law.

This site gives you access to a wide variety of Dennis Kennedy's writings and information about how you can have Dennis speak to your organization or group.

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Dennis Kennedy is one of the most knowledgeable legal technologists you will find. - Michael Arkfeld.

Dennis Kennedy, a lawyer and legal technology expert in St. Louis, Mo., has been a significant influence in the ever-evolving relationship between lawyers and the Web. - Robert Ambrogi